Joint Programmes between the Council of Europe and The European Union

Since 1993, in pursuit of common aims with regard to the protection of democracy, respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Europe, the Council of Europe and the European Union
have developed a vibrant co-operation instrument known as joint programmes.
This is one of the most visible parts of the very tight network of relations and
co-operation links existing between the two partners (regular high-level
consultations, participation of the European Commission in Council of Europe activities, accession of
the European Union to
Council of Europe Conventions, etc.). There have been approximately 180 EC/CoE
joint programmes of co-operation and joint actions over the past fifteen years,
involving co-operation with Albania (since 1993), Armenia (since 1999),
Azerbaijan (since 1999), Bosnia and Herzegovina (since 2003), Bulgaria, Croatia,
Estonia, "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Georgia (since 1999),
Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova (since 1997), Montenegro (since 2001), the Russian
Federation (since 1996), Serbia (since 2001), Turkey (since 2001), Ukraine
(since 1995), as well as certain CoE non-member states. Kosovo* has received
assistance since 2006. Most joint programmes
run for 24 months, and many have been extended to 36 months.

The joint programme format was initially intended as a tool
to facilitate co-operation with countries which had joined the Council of Europe
since 1989. More than a decade of effective co-operation between the European
Commission and the Council of Europe under the numerous joint programmes has
proven that solid results in support of the rule of law, better protection of
human rights, and stronger democratic institutions can be achieved when the two
Organisations combine their resources and respective strengths. Through joint
programmes, many countries developed increasingly close links with the European
Union, and some have applied for membership.

The majority of joint programmes (list)
are country-specific but there are also a number of regional and multilateral
thematic joint programmes regarding, for instance, national minorities, awareness-raising on the
abolition of the death penalty, national minorities, the fight against organised
crime and corruption, the development of independent and multidisciplinary
ethics committees for review of biomedical research, action to promote the European Social
Charter and a programme to strengthen democracy and constitutional development
in central and eastern Europe with the Council of Europe's Venice Commission.

In April 2001 an important step was taken
through the signature by the European Commission and the Council of Europe of a
Joint
Declaration on Cooperation and Partnership , which, among other things, offers a more systematic means
of joint programming and priority-setting. The signature in May 2007 of a
Memorandum of Understanding has reaffirmed the resolve of the two partners to reinforce
ongoing co-operation in the framework of joint programmes.

A key priority for the EU and CoE co-operation is the
promotion of democratic stability and peace, both in the Western Balkans
(Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”
and Kosovo*) and in the South Caucasus
region (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia). The Joint Programmes aim to support
the participation of these countries in the EU’s Stabilisation and Association
Process, or the European Neighbourhood Policy, thus facilitating closer
association and integration with the European Union.

Since 2005, the elaboration of CoE proposals for
country-specific programmes with co-financing from the European Commission has
been based, where applicable, on the relevant country co-operation paper and the CoE
programming document with the country in question. The European
Commission selects the projects and decides on the extent of its financial
participation in each Joint Programme in accordance with its political
priorities and in line with the modalities stipulated by the precise source of
funding.

Activities

The Joint Programmes consist of a series of activities agreed between the
European Commission and the Council of Europe, in consultation with the
governments of the concerned countries, designed to facilitate and support legal
and institutional reform. Training courses, expert reports and advice to
governments, conferences, workshops, seminars and publication dissemination are
all usual working methods. The emphasis has been on training and advice but in
some cases Joint Programmes have even offered limited material support (for
instance with the establishment of the Albanian School of Magistrates and the
State Publications Centre).

Programming and funding

The Directorate General for External Relations of the European Commission and
the Council of Europe's Directorate of Strategic Planning (as well as other
services as applicable) set and match priorities for the purpose of Joint
Programmes. Sometimes the Council of Europe makes proposals to the European
Commission for urgent joint undertakings. EuropeAid is the structure within the
European Commission involved in the final selection and administrative follow-up
of programmes. The Council of Europe counterpart throughout the project cycle is
the Directorate of Strategic Planning, in close consultation with the different
Council of Europe Directorates General responsible for the implementation of the
activities. In recent years the European Commission delegations in the
beneficiary countries have increasingly been implied in the Joint Programmes.
Equally, Council of Europe Secretariat Offices in the field support planning and
implementation.

The European Commission and the Council of Europe provide
joint funding for the programme, and the Council of Europe is responsible for
its implementation. In some cases funding is shared on a 50-50 basis but on
others the
European Commission has contributed with proportionally more resources. A large
number of Joint Programmes have been concluded with the EC's European Instument
for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
For geographical assistance programmes, the Council of Europe ha benefited from
funding under the Instrument for Pre-Assession Assistance (IPA) and the European
Neighbourhood Policy Instrument (ENPI).

Programme Partners

The Council of Europe often works with partner institutions in the country
concerned. Partners may include:

General Information about Programmes

Contact

For more information, please contact the Office of the Director General of
Programmes of
the Council of Europe.
Tel + 33 3 90 21 56 54
Fax + 33 3 90 21 46 31

* All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.